WCHA Preview:  Part 3

 

We’ve seen the bottom eight teams; now we’ll take a look at who I believe will be at the top of the WCHA ladder this season. 

4)            University of Wisconsin

Key Returners: 
-Mark Zengerle (Forward):  50 points
-Tyler Barnes (Forward):  26 points
- Michael Mersch (Forward):  30 points
-both goalies

Key Losses: 
-Justin Schultz (Defense):  44 points, Top 3 Hobey Baker candidate.

Key Incomers: 
-Nic Kerdiles (Forward):  Second round NHL draft pick and led the US U-18 team in scoring last season.
-Eddie Wittchow (Defense):  Sixth round NHL draft pick and named to USHL All-Rookie team.

The Skinny:
Wisconsin finished 10^th a year ago and they lost the best defenseman in the nation in Schultz.  However this season is still looking bright for the Badgers; Wisconsin is always tough defensively and they return both goaltenders from last season.  In addition, they return the bulk of their scoring headlined by Zengerle.  Throw in one of the best rookie forwards in the conference and this spells trouble for opponents.  I look for Wisconsin to make a push back to the top of the WCHA in their final year as a member.

 3)            University of Denver

Key Returners: 
-Nick Shore (Forward):  41 points
-Joey LaLeggia (Defense):  38 points
-Sam Brittain (Goalie):  .932%, 2.36 GAA, National and WCHA All-Rookie team selection in 2011
-Juho Olkinuora (Goalie):  .924%, 2.18 GAA, WCHA All-Rookie selection

Key Losses: 
-Drew Shore (Forward):  53 points
-Jason Zucker (Forward):  46 points
-Luke Salazar (Forward):  30 points

Key Incomers:
-Quentin Shore (Forward):  Led US Development team with 8 game-winning goals and was invited to US All-American Prospects game.
-Nolan Zajac (Defense):  Named to USHL All-Star team in 2011.
-Gabe Levin (Forward):  Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL) all-time leading scorer, All-NAHL selection, and All-rookie selection.
 
The Skinny: 
The Pioneers lost a lot of scoring when Drew Shore and Jason Zucker signed professional contracts over the off-season.  The good news for Pioneer fans is they still have a lot to battle with.  They have two fantastic goalies to build a team around, last season’s WCHA rookie of the year (LaLeggia) and the middle Shore brother to take over the scoring load.  In addition, they are reloading with a talented recruiting class.  Head coach George Gwozdecky hasn’t had a team finish out of the top four in over a decade.  It looks to be another top 4 finish for him in the Pioneers last year in the WCHA.

2)            University of North Dakota

Key Returners: 
-Danny Kristo (Forward):  45 points
-Corban Knight (Forward):  40 points
-Andrew MacWilliam (Defense):  One of the top shut-down defensemen in the league
-Carter Rowney (Forward):  Had a break-out season in 2011-2012 with 18 goals.

Key Losses: 
-Ben Blood (Defense):  3^rd team All-WCHA pick and logged a ton of minutes last season.
-Brock Nelson (Forward):  47 points, 3^rd team All-WCHA.
-Goalie duo of Aaron Dell and Brad Eidsness:  Both were All-WCHA selections in their career

Key Incomers:
-Jordan Schmaltz (Defense):  1^st round NHL draft pick, USHL first team selection and all-rookie selection.
-Zane Gothberg (Goalie):  6^th round NHL draft pick, Co-Goaltender of the year in the USHL, USHL first team selection.

The Skinny:
The University of North Dakota looks to fight for one of the top spots in their final year in the WCHA.  They only have to replace one defenseman and Jordan Schmaltz looks to do that right away.  They have the bulk of their line-up back, a solid rookie class, and a (hopefully) healthy Rocco Grimaldi.  As long as either transfer Clarke Saunders or freshman Zane Gothberg can get comfortable in net, this is going to be a very good team.

 

1)            University of Minnesota

Key Returners:
- Nick Bjugstad (Forward):  42 points
-Erik Haula (Forward):  49 points
-Kyle Rau (Forward):  43 points
-Nate Schmidt (Defense):  41 points

Key Losses: 
-Kent Patterson (Goalie):  1^st team All-WCHA Selection, WCHA goaltender of the year, and played in all but two games.
-Jake Hanson (Forward):  38 points
-Taylor Matson (Forward):  Team Captain, 23 points

Key Incomers: 
-Adam Wilcox (Goalie):  6^th round NHL draft pick, voted MVP of the Tri-City Storm last season
-Mike Reilly (Defense):  BCHL Defenseman of the year, all-rookie team, and 1^st team All-interior conference selection.
-Brady Skjei (Defense):  1^st round NHL Draft pick, highest +/- rating at U-18 World Championship

The Skinny:

The Gophers were sitting at the top of the WCHA standings a year ago and they return the bulk of their line-up.  They have six players returning that had at least 30 points.  They are returning six defensemen and bringing in two bluechip defense recruits.  They did lose WCHA goaltending champ Kent Patterson, but Coach Lucia is confident that freshman Adam Wilcox can carry the workload this year.  He’ll have the benefit of the best team in the league in front of him.


As hard as it is for me to put the Gophers at the top of the list, on paper there is no doubt they are the number one team coming in.  That being said, Minnesota has had plenty of great teams “on paper” that have failed to meet those expectations.  If they don’t play the way they are capable of there are plenty of teams that are capable of taking over that number one spot and bringing home the McNaughton Cup!